12/31/2014

At this time of year, with the garden under heavy frost,
working outside can do more harm than good. The soil can be compressed, plants
damaged and any soil that is turned is going to bury the frost and keep your
soil colder for longer. I have two ways to cope with the weather.

Planning for the Spring

A cold and sunny day is the perfect time to sit down with a
cup of tea and start to plan for the better weather, this not only gets a
useful job done, but also lifts the spirits and carries my thoughts away from
the short days and coldness. I have a very pictorial mind so plan my planting
with the aid of pictures cut from old seed catalogues. Start with the perennial
crops; rhubarb, soft fruit, etc. and then plan where your annual crops are
going to go. You need to think about where things have been planted in the last
three years and try to use some method of crop rotation. Brassicas (cabbage
family) in particular need to grow where the soil has not had other related
plants growing for two years. Also, some crops like fresh manure being dug in
while others prefer soil that was manured a year, or even two years ago. You will
need to think about sun and shade, many vegetable crops like full hot sunshine
while others prefer life in the shade. If you do use cut out pictures move them
around before making your final decision and pasting them on your plan.

When your plan is complete, all you need to do is decide on
varieties of seed to sow. I like to save my own seed as far as possible, but
still need to buy some supplies. If you are using seeds purchased last year be
warned that carrot and parsnip seeds do not keep well and germination is poor
with old supplies, best to buy fresh. I live in a cold spot due more to height
above sea level than anything else, so much of my sowing has to be done undercover
for planting out when the danger of late frost has passed.

Working the Land

If you do want to work on the garden despite the cold, why
not cover areas of your plot with tarpaulin or heavy duty polythene? On a cold
day, when the sun is shining you can pull back the covering and work on the soil.
Make sure that the covering goes on when the soil is not frozen otherwise you
will just be keeping the ground cold. Another job for midwinter, is that once
you have decided where your brassica are to be planted you can ‘lime’ the soil.
That means adding a calcium compound, usually powdered chalk to the soil to
reduce acidity and prevent fungal disease. Liming also helps break down heavy clay
soils, but be warned, test your soil to find the pH level before you lime; if
you have alkaline soil you may not need it.

"There is a pure seed of life which God hath sown in thee … Oh, wait daily to feel it. Oh, wait to feel the Seed, and the cry of thy soul in the breathing life of the Seed, to its Father … and wait for the risings of the power in thy heart … Be still and quiet, and silent before the Lord, not putting up any request to the Father, nor cherishing any desire in thee, but in the Seed’s lowly nature and purely springing life."